Grinding



C. BOOTH GRINDING Feb. 14, 1928.

s Sheets5het 1 Filed June 10. 1927 Feb. 14, 1928. 1,659,237

C. BOOTH GRINDING N Filed June 10. 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 N ,N a

Feb. 14, 1928.

C. BOOTH GRINDING Filed June 10, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 50 taken in connection with the accompanying chine provides for individual adjustment of Patented Feb. 14, 1928. 1,659,237

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

- CLEMENT BOOTH, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO CINCINNATI GRINDEBS IN- CORPORATED, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

'enrnnme. Application filed June 10, 1927. Serial No. 197,ee9.

Thisinventionrelates to improvements in of the appended claims without departing 55 grinding and more particularly to a novel from or exceeding the spirit of the invenand improved method and apparatus for use tlon. in the centerless grinding of thin rings and Figure 1 represents a rear View of a madi chine embodying the principles of the pres- The so-called centerless grinder has now out invention. 60 attained recognition as a distinct type of FigureQrepresentsatransverse view partly vmachine and normally comprises a pair of in section as on the line 2-2 of Figure 1. opposed wheels providing a work receiving Figure 3 represents a top plan View.

throat and a work-rest disposed within the Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of throat. One of the wheels is driven at a Figure 2, and 65 high or grinding rate of speed such as 4000 Figure 5 is a section .on the line 5-5 of feet or more surface speed a minute and in Figure 3. showing the workholder in upthe direction,,toward the work support, 'wardly swung position.

16 while the opposed or regulating wheel has Figure 6 is a fragmentary view of a modiits surface at the grinding throat moving fied construction of finger mounting, and 7 upwardly with respect to the workrest or in Figure 7 is a fragmentary plan view illusthe opposite direction with that of the trating the operation thereof.

grinding wheel and ata surface speed of As has been mentioned, difficulty has been about 80 feeta minute. The lattenwheel in experienced in the past, due to the tilting addition normally has its axis inclined with tendency of thin discs or rings in centerless 7 respect to the workrest so that it exerts a grinders. I have discovered that this diflidiagonal thrust or feed component. Maculty may be overcome by applying to a chines of this sort at the present time are series of workpieces as they pass through the commonly used for the grinding of various machine a constant pressure maintained in types of rolls and other small articles by the a plane at right angles to the intended axis 80 center-less principle, but difficulty has been of the workpieces and my improved method experienced in the grinding of articles of or "process of produc ng such workpieces lessthickness than diameter due to the tendtherefore, consists essentially in passing the ency of such articles to become tilted or to articles to be operated upon along a workbe twisted out of proper line by the feed rest and between opposed grinding and reg- 85. component of the regulating Wheel. ulating wheels, one of which exerts a fee It is,v therefore, an object of the present component and maintaining against such arinvention .to provide an improved process ticles during their passage a constant and of grindingwork of this type capable of uniform lateral pressure urging them in the being carried out in connection with madirection in which they are moved by said 00 chines of the general type above described feed component but at a slightly increased which will make it possible to produce acrate over said feed. I curate workon ringsanddiscs such as ball Specifically describing the embodiment of 40 races for example. i e the apparatus which has been chosen for the A further object ofthe invention is the purpose of illustrating the carrying out of provision of simple and efficient mechanism this process, there is shown in the drawings which may be readily applied'to present exa conventional 'centerless grinder of what is isting machines and'will permit a utilizaknown as the Heiin type, having a base or 45 tion of such machines to carry out said imbed portion A on which are mounted the o d roc ss, slides C and B for the grinding wheels Other objects and advantages of the 'pr'es- D and regulating wheel E respectively. ent invention should be readily apparent by Suitable mechanism such as the pair of hand reference to the following specifications 'wheels F andfG at one end of the ma drawings and it willbe understood that I the slides and thus of the wheels. 1 5 may make any modifications in the specific Secured to the bed of themachine and disdetails of construction or steps of the procp sed between the wheels is the work supess as hereinafter described within the scope porting bracket 10 having the elongated bar portion 11 provided with a seat to receive the workrest strip 12. It will be noted this member 11 projects a considerable distance to the front of the machine and is provided with the lateral arms 13 and 14. These arms have the seats 15 for the laterally adjustable guide plates 16 which may be locked in desired adjusted position by bolts 17 riding in slots 18 of the guide plates. The plates are preferably provided with the hardened inserts 19 for lateral engagement of the'workpieces.

This construction will possibly be best understood by reference to Figure 5 in which the parts are shown in detail. By reference to this figure it will be noted that there is provided a three-point support for the workpieces in which the lower or work supporting rest is a direct continuation of the work support or rest that projects into the gr1nding throat so that there is no vertical change in position of the workpieces as they are moved inwardly toward said throat. In addition the rings 20 are peripherally engaged at two substantially diametrically opposed points by the laterally adjustable guide members 16 which may be given suitable in and out movement to align their proximate edges with the operative faces of the grinding and regulating wheels so that the workpieces move into exact proper position within the grinding throat and slide freely along the support or rest 12. It will be noted that the lateral guides extend practically to the edge of the stones at the grinding throat so that the work-piece will be properly introduced while additionalguide plates 21 are secured at the discharge side of the machine. These members as shown are adjustably connected with the portion 22 of bracket 10 as by the screws 23 permitting their position to be varied to accurately lining them up with the operative faces of the wheels to accurately receive the finished work-pieces and prevent distortion thereof as they leave the grinding throat.

To facilitate application of a constant pressure against work-pieces during the grinding operation the bracket arms 14 are provided with extensions supporting the ends of the guide rod 24 on which is rotatably and slidably mounted sleeve portion 25 of the L shaped pusher head 26. This head has pivoted to its face the fingers 27-28 mounted on the screws 29 for swinging adjustment to vary their separation according to the diameter of the work-piece to be engaged thereby. To secure the fingers in do sired pivotally adjusted position they are preferably formed with heads 30 in which are the arcuate slots 31. Clamp bolts 32 ride in these slots whereby tightening of the bolts serves to lock the fingers in desired adjustment. As shown in Figure 5 they are set at maximum outward adjustment being capable of being swung inwardly into con tact with each other toiaccon'imodate work of quite small diameter. 3

In the carrying out of my improved process in conjunction with this machine a series of work-pieces 20 as indicated by the full and dotted lines in the drawings, are placed in the trough formed by guides 12 and 16. Member 26 is swung upwardly by manual actuation of handle 34 and the entire pusher member moved to the forward limit of the stroke when it is swung downward from position shown in Figure 5 to the position indicated in Figure 4. In this latter position the fingers 28 are disposed forwardly of the foremost work-piece in the trough and brought into contact therewith. In the operative position as shown both in Figure 2 and in Figure 4, attention is invited to the fact that the forward surface of the pusher head 26 is at right angles to the workrest 12 and thus correspondingly supports the fingers 28.

To cause the figures to bear against the series of work-pieces 20 with a uniform pressure during the movementof the pieces into the grinding throat use is preferably made of a gravity actuated mechanism, such as illustrated. This mechanism comprises the flexible cord or member 35 secured at one end to eye 36 on sleeve 25 and passing over the intermediate direction changing idlers 38. A weight 3T'secures the other depending end of the connection 35 suplying the impelling force. The mass of this weight is sufficient to urge a series of work-pieces between the stones at aslightly faster rate than the normal rate of feed of the machine so that a constant pressure is maintained against the work-pieces at right angles to the work support. This pressure laterally of the work-pieces during the grinding operation serves to hold them in axial alignment and prevents any tendency to twisting or tilting while within the grinding throat.

In the use of the machine the series of work-pieces is loaded into the carrier as indicated by the full lines in Figure 2, the operator then loading an additional series of pieces into the trough back of the pusher as it moved toward the wheels. W'hen most of the pieces in advance of the pusher have entered the grinding throat the handle 34 is depressed raising member 26 as shown in l igure 5. The pressure may then be temporarily manually maintained against the series of work-pieces moving in the newly loaded ones indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 3 for example. The pusher is withdrawn until beyond the new series to urge them into the grinding throat. In this manner it is possible for the operator to intermittently shift the pusher member and between such movements to properly load the lll) . trough with new work-pieces, thus making it possible to perform a continuous grinding on a series of work-pieces in a' most accurate manner.

If preferred, in place of rigidly attaching and locking the fingers 27- -28 in position, use may be made of the modified construction shown in Figures 6 and 7. In this form of invention the fingers 40 are pivot-ed as at 41 to the pusher head 26 and are inwardly actuated as by blade springs 42. This inward swinging movement may be limited as py a1 stop screw 43, provided on the pusher lea-c With this type of constructionthe fingers are substantially triangular in cross section as indicated in Figure ,6, providing the bevelled rear faces 44. These faces are of such angle that grasping of the pusher controlling handle and tending to slide it backward will cause the faces to be cammed outward by the edge of the adjacent ring 20 of the supply ofnew ball races or the like to be ground that are at the front of the machine.

Consequently, the fingers will be automatically forced outward to ride over the work pieces during the withdrawing movement, while being forced inward into operative position as shown by the springs 42. Incidentally, theapproaching movement of the knife edges on the two fingers will cause them if desired toenter between a pair of rings when withdrawn to an intermediate position, quickly taking hold of these rings and resuming the forward feeding operation in the event that for any reason the operator does not wish to include the whole series of rings before the pusher at one time.

It will be particularly noted that with the form of construction here provided a most satisfactory balanced pressure is attained against the work pieces, in that the front or engaging faces such as 45 of the fingers aredisposed in a common plane and at right angles to the work rest and engaging work -p piece both above and below the center line where it is laterally placed by the side guide member, As a consequence, a proper guidiug plane is established to prevent tilting of the work either forwardly or backwardly as it is advanced toward the machine and accurately controls its proper presentation to the grinding and regulating wheels.

1. The combination with a centerless grinder including opposed grinding and regulating wheels forming a work-receiving throat therebetween, of a work support having a portion disposed within the throat and a portion exterior thereto, laterally adjustable guide members adjacent to work support forming therewith a work-receiving trough, and means movably supported by the workrest and depending within the trough for applying longitudinal pressure to work piece when within the throat.

2. A centerless grinding machine including opposed grinding and regulatingwheels forming a work-receh'ihg throat therebetween, a work support d sposed withm the throat, said support having a. portion pro jecting exterior to the throat, armsrising from the support, work engaging members adj ustably mounted on said arms, and a work actuating member carried by said arms and having portions depending between the adjustable work engaging devices, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. The combination with a centerless grinding machine having opposed grinding and regulating wheels forming a work-re ceiving throat there-between, of a bracket carried by the machine and having a work support disposed partly within the throat and partly exterior thereto, arms rising from the exterior portion of the bracket, lateral guides supported by the arms, a guide rod additionally supported by certain of the arms, and a pusher member pivotally mounted on the guide rod and having a work engaging portion depending guiding members carried by the arms.

4:. The combination with a centerless grinder including opposed grinding and regulating wheels forming a work-receiving throat therebetween, of a bracket carried by the machine, awork support on the bracket having .a portion projecting between the wheels 'anda portion disposed exterior thereto, arms carried by the bracket on opposed sides of the support, supplemental work positionmg plates carrying said arms and forming with the support a work-receiving" trough, a guide bar supported by certain of the arms adjacent said -trough, a pusher member pivotally mounted on the rod and having a portion movable in the trough, said pusher being supported for longitudinal sliding on the rod. and means for actuating the usher along the rod in a direction toward the wheelsof the machine.

5. The combination with grinder including opposed regulating wheels, of means for guiding the work to the wheels including laterally adjustable guide plates and a pusher member having adjustable fingers depending between the guide plates, means for longitudinally urging the pusher member. and means for actuating the pusher member to raise the fingers out of the pathof movement of the work-piece. v

6. In a machine of the character described the combination with a support, of a pair of work guides carried thereby, a guide rod adjacent the guides, apusher on the rod having a face disposed at right angles to the guides of the support, work engaging fingers depending from the pusher into position bea centerless grinding and between the work tween certain of the guides, means mounting said fingers for pivotal adjustment, and additional means for locking the fingers in desired pivotally adjusted position.

7."Tl1e combination with a centerless grinder, of a work supplying trough therefor, and work feeding means for urging the work-pieces longitudinally of the trough, including a follower reciprocable and osciliatable in angularly related directions.

8. The combination with a center-less grinder, of a work supplying trough therefor, and work feeding means for urging the work-pieces longitudinally of the trough including a reciprocable and oscillatable follower and a single means for oscillating and reciprocating said follower.

9. The combination with a centerless grinder, including a grinding wheel operating at a high rate of speed and a regulating wheel operating in the opposite direction as respects the work and at a slow or work controlling speed, a work rest disposed partially within the throat formed by the adjacent peripheral faces of said wheels and projecting forwardly therefrom, work guiding means adjacent the work rest, and a pusher member having a plurality of members disposed with their work engaging faces in a common plane for engagement with a work piece above and below the horizontal. center line thereof, to accurately maintain the work piece in proper position for presentation within the grinding throat.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

CLEMENT BOOTH. 

